EU leaders welcome US – Iran framework agreement
European Union leaders welcomed on June 15 the framework agreement between the United States and Iran, part of which reportedly will see the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The BBC reported that the US and Iran have agreed a framework deal to end the war, which mediator Pakistan says will be signed on June 19 in Switzerland.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X: “I welcome the agreement reached between the US and Iran, following sustained diplomatic efforts by several partners”.
The priority now is its swift and full implementation by all parties, Von der Leyen said.
This agreement should allow for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, she said.
Freedom of navigation must be restored toll-free, Von der Leyen said: “This is essential for regional stability and the global economy”.
It opens the door to broader negotiations on peace and security in the Middle East, she said.
“And should end Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes and its destabilising activities in the region. And of course there can be no peace in the Middle East while Lebanon is in flames.”
This crisis also carries a clear lesson, Von der Leyen said.
“Once again, energy dependencies have been weaponised. We must diversify our supply routes and develop alternative export corridors to diversify away from the bottleneck of Hormuz. We will discuss this, and more, in Evian,” she said, referring to the June 15 – 17 G7 meeting.
European Council President António Costa welcomed the agreement.
“I look forward to an end to this costly war and to the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Costa said.
He said that the EU is ready to contribute to advancing a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace across the Middle East.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking before the start of a scheduled meeting of EU foreign ministers, said that the meeting would discuss the Middle East, and noted that the US – Iran deal had been welcomed by everybody.
Asked by reporters whether it was time for the Europeans to interact and participate, she said that this was exactly what the EU foreign ministers would discuss “because we have been in contact with Iran, but also the Gulf partners, also our American counterparts to offer help, because we have expertise when it comes to the nuclear negotiations, for example”.
“Today we are discussing what more can we do now that we enter into this second phase, what Europe can bring to the table. And, of course, we will discuss also the Middle East, the situation in Gaza and West Bank. We will discuss also Lebanon, and we hope that Lebanon is covered by this ceasefire, and of course they still need help,” Kallas said.
(Archive photo of Kallas and Von der Leyen: EC Representation in Cyprus)
